Drive off prevention device

ABSTRACT

A device for preventing a drive off during a traffic stop that can be easily deployed by a police office to puncture the tire of the vehicle if it is driven off during the traffic stop. The device has a base support a plurality of spikes and a handle pivotally coupled to an end of the base and movable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The handle is telescopic so that is can be extended for easy deployment of the device by the officer. The handle may include a visual indicator and can be magnetic to attach to the side of the vehicle. The base may include a flexible cover positioned over the plurality of spikes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to police safety devices and, more specifically, to a tire puncture device that can prevent a drive off during a traffic stop or other police action involving a vehicle.

2. Description of the Related Art

Vehicular stops, such as a traffic stop, present a number hazards for police officers, including the risk that the driver of the vehicle will drive off when the police officer reaches the vehicle. Drive offs can result in serious injury to police officers, including being hit or dragged by the vehicle when it drives and the potential for high speed pursuits that can lead to crashes and injury of innocent by standards. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a compact device that can be used deployed quickly, efficiently, and safely by a police officer to ensure that a stopped vehicle cannot be driven off and thus reduce the potential for injury or a high speed chase scenario and that can also optionally provide an automated warning of an attempted drive-off

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a device for preventing a drive off during a traffic stop that can be easily deployed by a police office to puncture the tire of the vehicle if it is driven off during the traffic stop. The device has a base support a plurality of spikes and a handle pivotally coupled to an end of the base that is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The handle is telescopic so that it can be extended for easy deployment of the device by the officer. The handle may include a visual indicator and can be magnetic to attach to the side of the vehicle. The base may include a flexible cover positioned over the plurality of spikes. The device may include an electronic circuit configured to detect a deployment event and to illuminate a visual indicator in response to detection of the deployment event. The electronic circuit can be configured to detect a puncture event and to use a communication link to report the occurrence of either or both of the deployment event and the puncture event to a remote host.

The device may be used to prevent a drive off during a traffic stop by pivoting the handle into the deployed position and positioning the device proximately to a tire of a vehicle involved in the traffic stop so that the base extends in front of the tire. Prior to positioned the device, handle may be telescoped so that it increases in length. The handle may be attached to the side of the vehicle by engaging a magnetic portion of the handle with a side of the vehicle. A visual indicator associated with the handle may be illuminated when the handle is moved into the deployed position. After the traffic stop, the handle may be disconnected from the side of the vehicle. The handle may then be collapsed and pivoted into the stowed position for placement in the vehicle of the police officer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reading the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a drive off device according to the present invention in the extended position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a drive off device according to the present invention in the collapsed position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a drive off device that has been deployed according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a drive off device according to the present invention in a collapsed configuration;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a drive off device according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a handle for a drive off device according to the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic of an electronics package according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the figures, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, there is seen in in FIG. 1 a drive off device 10 that can be deployed by a police officer so that if a vehicle 12 involved in a traffic stop is driven off at least one tire 14 of vehicle 12 will be punctured, thereby immobilizing the vehicle 12. As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 , device 10 may be positioned proximately to tire 14 so that if vehicle 12 is driven, device 10 will puncture tire 14. Although shown in FIG. 3 on the left side of vehicle 12, device 10 could be used on either side of vehicle 12 and positioned against rear or front tires 14. It should be recognized that multiple devices 10 could also be used during a traffic stop if desired.

Device 10 comprises a base 16 and a handle 18 pivotally coupled to one end of the base 16. Base 16 supports a plurality of spikes 20 that are dimensioned to puncture tire 14. The length of spikes 20 can be selected to ensure that any conventional tires encountered by a police officer will be adequately punctured. Spikes 20 could comprise any sharp structure that will cause a puncture in tire 14 including pyramids, blades, caltrops, etc. The number and positioning of spikes 20 may also be varied or determined based on standard tire dimensions and to optimize the likelihood of a puncture in a large percentage of tires to be encountered. For larger trucks, buses or commercial vehicles, the dimensions of device 10 and/or spikes 20 may need to be increased. Spikes 20 may also be hollow and detachable from device 10 for use against self-sealing or run flat tires and to ensure deflation rather than an explosive decompression.

Base 16 is illustrated as being generally planar, but could be trapezoidal or even cylindrical, and can include feet or supports 24 to orient base 16 into the appropriate position for deployment and support base 16 for use in any road surface, such as pavement, sand, or stone, or in the event of ice or snow. As seen in FIG. 5 , base 16 may include a cover 22 over spikes 20. In one embodiment, cover 22 may comprise a flexible polymer mesh so that cover 22 can be left in place when device 10 is deployed for safety, but will collapse in response to contact with tire 14 to allow spikes 20 to puncture tire 14. Cover 22 can be sized to encompass any size spikes 20, or could comprise individual plastic or rubber tips positioned over spikes 20.

Handle 18 preferably telescopes for easy deployment by a police officer without resulting in a distraction. Handle 18 may then be collapsed and then folded against base 16, as seen in FIG. 4 , so that device 10 is compact and can be easily stored in a police vehicle before and after use by a police officer. Handle 18 is shown as coupled to base 16 by a ball and socket joint, but any method that allows handle 18 to pivot between a deployed position, as seen in FIG. 1 , and a stowed position, as seen in FIG. 4 , will suffice. As seen in FIGS. 4 and 5 , base 16 may include a channel 26 so that when handle 18 is in the stowed position it is recessed, and thus spikes 20 can still puncture tire 14 if device 10 is deployed without handle 18 being pivoted and extended.

Referring to FIG. 6 , handle 18 may include a visual indicator 30, such as a light emitting diode, that illuminates, e.g., by flashing, when device 10 is deployed so that the driver of vehicle 12 is notified that device 10 is in place, and so that device 10 not inadvertently left in place after a traffic stop. Handle 18 may also include a portion 32 extending therearound that is magnetic so that handle 18 can be releasably secured to the side of vehicle 12 when deployed.

Referring to FIG. 7 , device 10 may include an electronics package 40 including a controller 42, such as a microprocessor or microcontroller, that is coupled to visual indicator 30 as well a deployment sensor 44, a puncture sensor 46, and a communication link 48. Device 10 may thus detect when it has been deployed to illuminate visual indicator 30 and when spikes 20 have been driven over. Device 10 can further report these events to a remote host, such as police vehicle computer or police dispatch system, via communication link 48. Device 10 can thus automatically signal the occurrence of an event involving an officer and an attempted drive-off, which may be helpful if the officer cannot call for help and the vehicle still tries to flee.

Device 10 this allows a police officer to properly position a deflation tool while reducing the need to take their eyes off the driver area of the stopped vehicle. Device 10 also avoids the need for the police officer to bend over or take an excessive amount of time deploying device 10. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for preventing a drive off during a traffic stop, comprising: a base supporting a plurality of spikes; and a handle pivotally coupled to an end of the base and movable between a stowed position and a deployed position.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the handle is telescopic.
 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the handle includes a visual indicator.
 4. The device of claim 3, wherein a portion of the handle is magnetic.
 5. The device of claim 4, wherein the base includes a flexible cover positioned over the plurality of spikes.
 6. The device of claim 5, wherein the handle is recessed in the stowed position.
 7. The device of claim 1 further comprises an electronic circuit configured to detect a deployment event and to illuminate a visual indicator in response to detection of the deployment event.
 8. The device of claim 7, wherein the electronic circuit is configured to detect a puncture event.
 9. The device of claim 8, wherein the electronic circuit includes a communication link configured to report an occurrence of either or both of the deployment event and the puncture event to a remote host.
 10. A method of preventing a drive off during a traffic stop, comprising the steps of: providing a device having a base supporting a plurality of spikes and a handle pivotally coupled to the base and movable between a stowed position and a deployed position; pivoting the handle into the deployed position; and positioning the device proximately to a tire of a vehicle involved in the traffic stop so that the base extends in front of the tire.
 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of telescoping the handle so that it increases in length prior to positioning the device proximately to the tire of the vehicle.
 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of attaching the handle to a side of the vehicle by engaging a magnetic portion of the handle with the side of the vehicle.
 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of illuminating a visual indicator associated with the handle when the handle is moved into the deployed position.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of disconnected the handle from the side of the vehicle after the traffic stop has completed.
 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of collapsing the handle after the traffic stop has completed.
 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of pivoting the handle into the stowed position after the traffic stop has completed.
 16. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of detecting deployment of the handle into the deployed position.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of providing a visual indication of detected deployment.
 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of detecting any of the plurality of spikes puncturing the tire.
 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of communicating any detected deployment of the handle or puncturing of the tire to a remote host. 